Paul Pierce has left Boston for now after being traded from the Celtics, but he wants to reunite with the city once his playing career concludes.

Clearly drawn to the place where he spent the first 15 years of his career, Pierce, who will turn 36 in three weeks, told the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn he would like to become a fixture in Boston. The 10-time All-Star suggested potentially owning a sports bar or -- who knows? -- maybe even working in the Celtics front office.

“Ultimately, what I would like to do is have a business in Boston,” Pierce told the Globe. “Maybe like a sports bar. I would love to do something like that here. None of the former Celtic great players have come and done that. I thought about it, and why hasn’t anyone come and opened up a nice restaurant? You see the Don Shula restaurant, the Michael Jordan restaurant, and Magic (Johnson) got the theaters in LA. Why nobody here? All this history, all these championships and love, why has nobody done that?

“I am going to still have relationships here. I’m always going to come to this city. Every year, when I’m done, I’m going to have a reason to come here.”

“Who knows? I may be working for Wyc Grousbeck or Danny Ainge,” he said. “A lot of players don’t understand it. I’ve always understood it. And (other players) let their pride and ego get in the way. I’ve made a lot of money here, I’ve built relationships, won a championship here, I thank y’all for everything y’all gave me. How can I be mad for everything they’ve given me. I’m thankful.”

In the past, Pierce has said he'd like to become a general manager if he can. But that won't happen immediately. For now he's focused on trying to win a ring with the Brooklyn Nets -- which, he admitted to Washburn, he believes would push him even further up the list of all-time greats.

Regardless of where Pierce ultimately lands on that list, he should always be revered in Boston. And in this case, it seems like the city's love is quite mutual.